Hurricane Preparedness and Emergency Kits: A Practical Checklist
Hurricane Preparedness and Emergency Kits: what is worth doing, what is worth avoiding, and when to stop and see a doctor.
Planning and packing supplies before hurricanes and other disasters so your household can stay safe and healthy. Storms can cut power, water and access to medical care for days, and planning ahead is much easier than scrambling at the last minute.
Key takeaways
- Water: at least 1 gallon per person per day for several days
- Food: a supply of nonperishable food for several days, plus a manual can opener
- Most useful single change: Keep a go-bag ready and a larger kit for staying at home.
- Commonest mistake: Waiting until a storm warning to gather supplies.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Do
- Keep a go-bag ready and a larger kit for staying at home
- Plan for medical equipment that needs power, such as oxygen or dialysis
- Store copies of insurance cards and important documents in a waterproof bag
- Agree on a family meeting place and an out-of-area contact
- Include supplies for babies, older adults and pets
Do not
- Waiting until a storm warning to gather supplies
- Ignoring evacuation orders
- Running a generator indoors or in a garage
The numbers behind the list
Where the items above come from.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Water | at least 1 gallon per person per day for several days |
| Food | a supply of nonperishable food for several days, plus a manual can opener |
| Medicines | at least a 7-day supply, plus copies of prescriptions and medical information |
| Other basics | flashlight, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, first aid kit, phone charger |
| Evacuation | know your local evacuation zone and route |
If you change one thing
Keep a go-bag ready and a larger kit for staying at home. It heads the list. If you take nothing else from this page, take that.
Related topics
- What the Guidance Really Says About Planning for Deterioration (Long-Term Conditions)
- Planning Ahead: What the Evidence Actually Says (Healthy Aging)
- The Evidence on Travel Insurance and Healthcare Abroad, Without the Hype (Travel Health)
- What the Guidance Really Says About Meal Planning (Nutrition)
Where to go next
- Hurricane Preparedness and Emergency Kits: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- What Hurricane Preparedness and Emergency Kits Is, and Why It Matters
- Hurricane Preparedness and Emergency Kits — the reference entry
- Weather Safety: The Complete Guide
- Carbon Monoxide During Power Outages: What the Evidence Actually Says
- The Evidence on Lightning Safety, Without the Hype
When to speak to a doctor
Follow evacuation orders from local officials. Call 911 for injuries, chest pain or trouble breathing, and do not drive through flooded roads to get help.
Where this comes from
- American Red Cross — Hurricane Safety
- American Red Cross — Make a Plan and Build a Kit
- CDC — Hurricanes and Other Tropical Storms
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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